SUBSCRIBE TO TMCnet
TMCnet - World's Largest Communications and Technology Community

CHANNEL BY TOPICS


QUICK LINKS




Q4 Will See Tablet Shipments Exceed PC Shipments for First Time

TMCnet Feature

September 12, 2013

Q4 Will See Tablet Shipments Exceed PC Shipments for First Time

Share
Tweet
By Ed Silverstein
TMCnet Contributor

Personal computers have hit another low in a series of lows. It is well-known that PCs are losing popularity, as more consumers and businesses are opting for smartphones and tablets.

But now there is some new data that shows tablet shipments will top personal computers for the first time during Q4, IDC (News - Alert) reported recently.


The number of tablets to be shipped in Q4 is predicted to be 84.1 million units. PCs shipped will total 83.1 during Q4, IDC said.

Also, there is a predicted 10 percent drop in sales of PCs during the current year, Bloomberg (News - Alert) News reported. Still, PC shipments will be more than tablet shipments for all of 2013, but tablet shipments will be higher than PC shipments for the entire year by the end of 2015, IDC said.

On the other hand, IDC said the market for desktops, laptops, smartphones and tablets will increase 28 percent to $622.4 billion in 2013 and jump to $735.1 billion by the end of 2015.

Increased sales of tablets and smartphones have helped companies such as Apple, Google and Samsung (News - Alert) Electronics.

It is noteworthy that lower-price tablets and smartphones appear to be increasingly popular, according to IDC. In fact, tablets and smartphones, which cost less than $350, will be 68 percent of all connected-device shipments, IDC. Also, the average selling price is heading to $323 by 2017 compared to $462 in 2012, IDC said.

"At a time when the smartphone and tablet markets are showing early signs of saturation, the emergence of lower-priced devices will be a game-changer," Megha Saini, an IDC analyst, said in a statement. "Introducing new handsets and tablet devices at cheaper price points along with special initiatives like trade-in programs from Apple (News - Alert) and BestBuy will accelerate the upgrade cycle and expand the total addressable market overnight."

Lower-cost devices will lead to more sales for first-time buyers in fields such as education, IDC added.

Also, Bob O'Donnell, Program vice president, Clients and Displays, IDC, said that, “Over the next 12-18 months…we believe the larger smartphones, commonly called 'phablets,' will start to eat into the smaller-size tablet market, contributing to a slower growth rate for tablets."

Last year, PC shipments were 28.7 percent of the smart connected device market. Tablets were 11.8 percent. Smartphones were 59.5 percent. By 2017, PCs will be 13 percent of the market. Tablets and smartphones will be 16.5 percent and 70.5 percent, respectively, IDC said.




Edited by Alisen Downey


View all articles


Comments powered by Disqus








Technology Marketing Corporation

2 Trap Falls Road Suite 106, Shelton, CT 06484 USA
Ph: +1-203-852-6800, 800-243-6002

General comments: [email protected].
Comments about this site: [email protected].

STAY CURRENT YOUR WAY

© 2024 Technology Marketing Corporation. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy